The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-29
Thomas JerersOn,s Ingenuity.


Two illustrated articles on Monticello are
given in the September Century. The
first is by j. g. Nicolay, the second by
Frank r. Stockton. We quote from the
latter: 81 think it is not generally known
with what pleasure and zeal Jefferson
brought his mind to bear, not only upon
the development of his somewhat grand
ideas in regard to home, but upon the
most minute and peculiar contrivances for
convenience and adornment He drew
plans and made estimates for almost every
thing that was built or constructed on his
place. He calculated the number of bricks
to be used in every part of his buildings;
and his family now possess elaborately
drawn plans of such bits of household fur
nishing as curtain yalenees, and the like.
Many of his ideas in regard to building and
furnishing he brought with him from
France; but more of them had their origin
in bis brain. There were no bedsteads in
his house, but in every chamber there was
an alcove in the wall in which a wooden
framework was built which supported the
bed. Ills own sleeping arrangements DUR
ing the lifetime of his wife were of very
peculiar nature; in the partition between
two chambers was an archway, and in this
archway was the double bed; one chamber
was Mr. Jeffersons room, and the other
was his wife's dressing room; when he arose
in the morning he got out Of bed into his
own room, and Mrs. Jefferson got out into
her room. After his wifes death her room
became his study, and the partition wall
between it and the library being taken down
the whole was thrown into the present large
apartment Over the archway in which
the bed is placed is long closet reached
by step-ladder placed in another closet at
the foot of the bed IL this were stored
in summer the winter clothes of the family,
and in winter their summer habilments
At the other side of the arch there is a
small door, so that persons going from one
room to the other had no need to Chamber
over the bed.
''ln the smaller chamber, when it became
his study, stood Mr. Jefferson S writing-chair,
which was made to suit his peculiar needs;
the chair itself was high-backed, well-roun-
ded, and cushioned, and in front of it ex-
tended cushioned platform, on which Mr.
Jefferson found it very pleasant to stretch !.
his legs, being sometimes troubled with
swellings of the smaller veins of these limbs.
The writing table was so made that it could
be drawn up over this platform, legs and
all, and pushed down when it was not in
use. The top of this table turned on a
pivot; on one side of it we're his writing
materials, and on the other was the little
apparatus by which he made copies of all
his letters. By his side was another revolv-
ing table, on which his books of reference
lay, or were held open at proper angles
Near him also stood a pair of large globes,
and, if he wished to study anything outside
of this world, he had in the room two long
telescopes mounted on brass tripods Con-
venient also were his violins, one Cremona,
and the other the bass-yiol saved from the
Shadwell fire. Besides the book-shelves
and the somewhat simple furniture of the
library, there were a number of oddly con-
trived little closets, in which were stored
his multitudinous manuscripts. There is
writing-table now in the possession of the
family, which was frequently used by Mr.
Jefferson, and which is very ingeniously
contrived Two of its four legs are hollow,
and in these run rods resting upon springs
by which the table can be easily elevated,
the other two legs being also extensible, but
in a different way. When Mr.. Jefferson
was tired of writing in sitting position, he
could stand up and raise the table to the
desired height When he wished to use it
as reading-stand, the top could be inclined
at any angle, and strip of brass was
brought into use to keep the books and
papers from sliding off.
"Opening from the library was a large
room inclosed with glass, which was inten-
ded for conservatory, but was used by
Mr.. Jefferson as his work room. There he
had workbench, with all sorts of carpen-
ters tools, with which he constructed a
great many of the small conveniences he
invented.